Envelope



Sept. 1936' I J. A. CHADBOURNE 2,056,132

ENVELOPE Filed Dec. 20, 1935 INVENTOR.

TTORNEY.

Patented Sept.j29, 1936 PATENT orrics ENVELOPE Joseph Chadbourne,

Westfield, Masa, assignor to Old Colony Envelope fiompany, Westiieid, Masa, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. sans I l. Glalan.

This invention relates to improvements in envelopes and is directed more particularly to envelopes oi the type which are commonly called self -sealing.

it The principal object of this invention is the provision of a novel envelope of the self-sealing type, that is an envelope which may be sealed without the necessity of moistening the adhesive.

According to special features of the invention adhesive is carried by the usual sealing flap as well as by the body of the envelope and this adhesive is of such a nature that when two surfaces carrying the same are brought into contact with one another, they adhere for sealing.

iii The envelope of this invention is so constructed and the adhesive is so located thereon as to facilitate economy in manufacture and means is provided to prevent contact of the adhesive surfaces when the sealing flap is in sealing position and go it is not desired to seal the envelope. In this way. a plurality of envelopes may be packed in the usual way without danger of the adhesive surfaces coming into contact with one another when it is not desired to have them do so yet when it is deas sired to seal the envelope, the means for preventing contact of the adhesive may be readily moved from its protective position or removed entirely from the envelope.

Various other novel objects and advantages will so be observed from the following description of the preferred form of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of an envelope :u m the features of the invention with the sealing flap 35 of the envelope in. non-sealing position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the flap in sealing position.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the inventionwill be fully described.

to The envelope of the invention may take any form or size desired but in any event, it is desiratale that the envelope have a front wall portion 2, end flaps ii and a rear wall 6.- I'he flaps t and wall 6 e tend inwardly to overlie the back of the 46 front wall 2 in the usual way and preferably the rear wall i is secured to the end flaps 5 so as to form the envelope pocket.

A sealing r'iap b is hinged to one of the walls such asthe front wall 2 and this is foldable down- 50 wardly as along a line 9 to overlie the side of the envelope opposite to that to which it is hinged. In referring to the rear wall, it will now be understood that the term may include the part 6 or the end flaps 4 or both since these parts constitute a as wall as distinguished from the front wall 2.

Adhesive represented by it audit is applied to the inner side of flap 8 and to the rear wall. in the form shown, the adhesive it is applied to the upper part of end flaps 3. The adhesive is of a self-sealing type which does not require moisten- 5 ing but which adheres to itself so that as the adhesive surface on the flap ii contacts with that on. the back of the envelope, it becomes sealed thereto. Various substances may be employed for this purpose, such as rubber dissolved in hydro-carbon id liquids, latex, or the like.

As has been described, the adhesive area it is provided on the body of the envelope and the sealing flap d is so arranged that it may be brought downwardly into sealing position and l secured to the body of the envelope. That is to say, the sealing flap 8 is secured in place to the envelope itself in the usual way, yet the usual necessity of moistening the adhesive is obviated.

What maybe called a safety member i2 is no provided at the upper side of the rear of the envelope and in the form shown it is secured to the upper marginal edge of the wall 6. Preferably a line of perforations it is provided between the parts 6 and i2 and this facilitates tearing of the as member 82 so that it may be removed from. the envelope. In any case, however, the flap is movable so that it may be swung from a. position over the adhesive a ea it to a position away therefrom where the area it is uncovered and ready to for contact with the flap d. That is, the part it may be removed entirely from the envelope by tearing on the line it or it maybe merely folded back out of the way so that the area it is exposed. 36

The envelopes of the invention are packed or stacked with the member i2 overlying the adhesive it as shown in Fig. l and with the sealing flap d folded downwardly into sealing position. This, of course, prevents contacting of the areas 40 i5 and it and thus the envelo es may be shipped, stored and otherwise handled in the usual manner without danger of untoward sealing.

When it is desired to use an envelope and seal it, the adhesive it is uncovered, as stated, by 45 either removing the part it by tearing or by turning it downwardly. Then flap B may be brought down to sealing position as shown in Fig. 2 so that adhesive areas it and i6 contact and adhere to one another without the necessity 50 of moistening the adhesive.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I An envelope of the self-sealing type comprising in combination, a front wall, side flaps extending inwardly from opposite sides of said front wall and overlying the back face thereof, a back wall member extending upwardly from the lower marginal edge of said front wall and overlying the outside of said side flaps, a sealing flap hinged to the upper marginal edge of said front wall and foldable downwardly tothe upper part of said back wall member, adhesive areas on said sealing flap and one of said side flaps arranged to register with one another when. said sealing flap is folded downwardly, the adhesive on said sealing tate removal of said certain portion thereof, all

adapted and arranged whereby said certain portion of the back. wall member may be removed so 4 as to uncover the adhesive area on the side flap 'and said sealing flap may be folded downwardly so that its adhesive area contacts the adhesive area on the side flap and adheres thereto for sealing said envelope.

JOSEPH A. CHADBOURNE. 

